Two big-name local acts, who can fill larger spaces, will give special, intimate performances next month. These up-close-and-personal gatherings foster valid and vital support for the performers and nurture bonding with their hard-core fans.

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, the Grammy nominee and multi Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, will preview her forthcoming New York gig (at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency hotel Oct. 9-13), with shows at 9 p.m. Oct. 2-5 at Michel's at the Colony Surf, a dining palace more than a performance club. Still, the beachfront setting, with folks such as Matt Catingub, Jeff Peterson, David "Chino" Montero and Steve Jones providing music, brings added allure. Gilliom's milestone "Generation Hawai'i" CD, re-imagined as "Generation U.S.A." with Catingub's kokua, will be the impetus for the New York engagement. Michel's tickets: $40, includes one standard drink. Reservations: 923-6552. For details on the Feinstein's gig: www.hanaialii.com. ...

The Makaha Sons — Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Jerome Koko, John Koko — will do a first fundraiser for their Makaha Sons Foundation, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch & Crab. The intent is to build support to maintain the organization's ongoing programs in traditional Hawaiian music, culture, language and the arts, through scholarship, mentoring and educational programs for Island youth, thereby perpetuating the rich cultural heritage. Tickets: $100 ($80 tax deductible). Reservations: 536-0545. Information: www.makahasonsfoundation.org. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Don Stroud now is officially a co-producer of Andy Bumatai's "NightTime" TV series, meaning he'll be booking talent for the show with producer Jim Bryan as the taping site switches this week from the Honolulu Design Center to the Tropics Showroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. ...

Naveen Andrews, Sayid in ABC's "Lost," has a role in Jodie Foster's vigilante film, "The Brave One," opening Friday. ...

Looks like Hapa won't be performing Oct. 26 at the Hawai'i Theatre. No reason cited for the cancellation. ...

"The Augie Show: Season One," a compilation of the Augie T OC 16 TV shows, will be out on DVD on Sept. 18, with two hours of bonus material — extended footage, deleted scenes and bloopers. ...

Manoa DNA will open for Cecilio and Kapono Friday in Las Vegas in a Sam's Town gig that is a pre-game activity for Saturday's University of Hawai'i Warriors vs. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, football game. It will be the first Vegas gig for Manoa DNA; probably not the last. ...

RANDOM NOTES: When Ho'okena's Horace Dudoit III went shopping at 'Ewa Beach Foodland recently, he noticed singer Martin Nievera signing autographs and kibitzing with fans, part of a Western Union promotion involving the Filipino superstar. So Dudoit finally met the trouper he's heard about for some time and shared Ho'okena's "Lei Pulamahia" and the "Home for the Holidays" CDs with Nievera. Wanda Tsukiyama, a longtime Nievera pal and aide, mentioned that Ho'okena had recorded "The Prayer" with local singer Maila Gibson, and Nievera revealed he's tried to get that popular ballad translated into Filipino without success. Now, Dudoit will try to help with phrasing/translation. ...

DATE TO NOTE: Ho'okena's Christmas concert will be held Dec. 16 at the Ala Moana Hotel, with Willie K as guest star. "Can you imagine us singing 'O Holy Night' with him? Worth the price of the concert." ...

Marian Benham, docent co-chairwoman at the Hawai'i Theatre, recently vacationed with family in England, where she took the entire entourage to see "Les Misérables" as well as a very nude "Cabaret" interpretation. A trip highlight: "Pygmalion," in Cambridge, in a venue that resembled the Hawai'i Theatre. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.